Minor Delays are Perfectly Acceptable to Achieve Marketing Perfection

Sometimes home sellers are in such a rush to get their property listed that they forget what is really most important. Getting the house SOLD is the objective, not getting it listed.I refer to this as Premature Listing Syndrome.It is not WHEN you list as much as it is WHAT you list that determines how fast it will sell.A home, and it's property, should be 100% prepared for presentation PRIOR to listing!Chris Ann Cleland uses a great analogy to explain having to delay listing to her sellers. She understands the importance of having a show-ready home before it hits the mls...marketing perfection should always be the goal! Minor Delays are Perfectly Acceptable to Achieve Marketing Perfection Around the time my mother was in the hospital, a home owner in my neighborhood contacted me via phone with tons of urgency in his voice.  He needed me to help him sell his home ASAP and if I couldn't, could I refer him to someone that could.  Well, I got that message while at my mother's bedside in the ER, and called back with a referral.  Apparently, the urgency was not as critical if it meant not working with me.  My long time marketing in the neighborhood was paying off yet again. When Mom was back up and at 'em, I scheduled a listing appointment with this family.  Yes, they needed to sell quickly.  However, at the listing appointment, they were bummed when I gave them projects that were going to be necessary for them to sell for the sales price they expected.  I set them up with a stager, painter and carpet company.  Even set them up with a power washer for the exterior of their home.  And as they reached the end of their prep budget and the painter turned out to be a jerk, I even patched a hole in the wall and painted it for them. Professional pictures were scheduled and all were happy.  Unfortunately, the rain clouds decided to take up residence over Bristow, VA for a day and a half.  So I postponed the photos the same day they were supposed to be taken.  When I called Mrs. Seller, she was so disappointed.  "We really need to just get this done.  Is it really that big a deal?" Naturally, I explained that you don't get a second chance to make a first impression.  Pictures count.  They need to draw in the buyer.  Barbara Todaro says it often--the eye buys.  It's true.  Taking pictures just to get it over with today could cost my sellers thousands on the market.  Waiting is the best plan.  Mrs. Seller was still anxious. Then I came up with the analogy of delayed flights.  There is not much more aggravating when you are trying to get somewhere and arrive to the airport to find your flight is delayed or canceled.  Those decisions are not made lightly.  They are done for the best outcome, which in that case, is passenger safety.  Be it weather or mechanical failure, conditions need to be acceptable to get the passengers in the air.  Better to get to your destination late and in one piece, than not get there at all. Same goes for real estate, only the best outcome is getting my sellers the most money.  A delay to get the marketing photos just right is merely an inconvenience, akin to a flight delay.  It's not life threatening, but the agent leading this transaction knows that the delay will be worth it in making the best possible first impression.  We'll sell faster and for more money in the long run.Chris Ann Cleland, Associate Broker-Licensed in VA 2016, 2015 PWAR Top Producer Long & Foster Real Estate, Gainesville, VA 703-402-0037, ChrisAnn@LNF.com www.UncompromisingValues.com www.SellingBraemar.com The opinions expressed in this post are those of Chris Ann Cleland, not those of Long & Foster Real Estate®.______________________________________________________________________________      Creative & Unique Solutions... One Room at a Time WHAT IS HOME STAGING?               NEW HAMPSHIRE HOME STAGING FAQ Professional Home Staging in New Hampshire Portsmouth   Rye   North Hampton   Dover   Durham   Barrington   Rochester 603.661.8524